![The ‘Big 4′ Bands of 17 Metal Subgenres](https://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2021/11/attachment-big_4_other_metal_subgenres.jpg?w=980&q=75)
The ‘Big 4′ Bands of 17 Metal Subgenres
For over a decade, thrash metal fans have had a definitive – if debatable – list of the top four bands in the field: Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax. (There has been some recent speculation, though, about expanding the group to include Exodus, so we’ll have to wait and see.)
But what about the rest of the genre? After all, metal has become immeasurably varied and vital over the last 50-plus years, with many other superb styles emerging thanks to the efforts of numerous awesome artists.
So, which of those subsections also deserve the spotlight, and who’s truly responsible for shaping them into what they became?
That’s where the following catalog comes in. Basically, we’ve broken down over two dozen other subgenres to explore why they’re significant and which four artists (each) have done the most to make them stand out. Without them, metal as a whole simply wouldn’t be the same.
The 'Big 4' of 17 Metal Subgenres
More From KZCD-FM
![Ville Valo Reveals HIM Songs He’ll Play on 2023 Solo Tour](http://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2022/12/attachment-Ville-Valo.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![10 Metal Vocalists Who Sound Like Classic Movie Monsters + Villains](http://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2022/12/attachment-musicians_movie_monsters_villains.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Corey Taylor + Evanescence Join 90 Other Acts Confirmed So Far for 2023 Blue Ridge Rock Festival](http://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2023/02/attachment-Corey-Taylor-Evanescence.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![See Spotify Wrapped 2022 Stats for Over 50 Rock + Metal Bands](http://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2022/12/attachment-spotify_wrapped_for_artists_2022.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Why Ville Valo Says HIM Was ‘More than Just a Band’ + Doesn’t Rule Out Reunion](http://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2022/04/attachment-ville_valo_vv_2022.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![10 Most Legendary/Iconic Bootleg Rock + Metal Albums](http://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2022/11/attachment-most_iconic_legendary_bootleg_albums.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![50 Most Controversial Hard Rock + Metal Album Covers (NSFW)](http://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2022/11/attachment-controversial_album_covers.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![The Best Rock + Metal Songs of October – Staff Favorites + More](http://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2022/11/attachment-babymetal_blink_182_lorna_shore_nickelback.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![‘Hellraiser’ Pinhead Actor Reveals His Metal Fandom, Calls Dani Filth a ‘Trailblazer’](http://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2022/10/attachment-Pinhead-Dani-Filth.jpg?w=980&q=75)